Dredging-machine



No. 620,635. Patented Mar. 7, |899.

J. J. BATMAN.

DREDGING MACHINE.

(Application led Har. 23, 1898.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.k

u A A il l nl W W I II i l. n ,YW l I m l f n l w w a sxl WIZ'JVESSES V A l N0. 620,635- Patented Mar. 7, |899. J. J. BATMAN.

DREDGINE MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1898.)

2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Q% WTNESSES UNIT-En STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OHN J. BATMAN, OF SUNBURY, PENNSYLVANIA.

DREDGING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 620,635, dated March '7, 1899.

Application led March Z3, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. BATMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sunbury, in the county of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dredging-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in dredging-machines, the object of the invention being to provide a hydraulic suction-dredge of improved construction in which the suction-tube can be positioned as desired, said tube having at its inlet-opening or lower end an agitator or screen of such construction that the material upon which the dredge is working may be loosened and separated to prevent the clogging up or stoppage of the suction-pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for operating or moving the agitator and screen over the mouth of the suction-pipe, so that the position of the same may be varied and reciprocated, and also generally to improve and simplify the construction of the dredge and its parts, so that the suction-pipe may be :readily moved as desired, the shifting of the suction-pipe in no wise interfering with the effective operation of the agitator and screen.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of the dredge; Fig. 2, a detail view of the agitator and screen, its parts being shown separated or in detail; and Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the dredge, showing the suction-pipe with agitator and screen and mechanism for operating the same.

This invention is designed more especially for dredging in rivers or Waters for the purpose of removing the bed to form channels or for the purpose of sinking shafts to bed-rock in dredging for minerals, especially gold, and the main or leading feature of my inventionto wit, the agitating chain and screen-is applicable to many forms of suotion-dredges'.

Upon a suitable iloat is mounted a centrifugal pump A, which is driven in the usual manner, the same having connected thereto a discharge-pipe A' and the suction-pipe, the suction-pipe having suitable swivel connections which admit of the desired range of adjustment. The suction-pipe may be made of several sections, which are coupled together,

Serial No. 674,857. (No model.)

B referring to the section which is attached to the inlet-pipe of the centrifugal pump, and this section has suitably connected thereto a casting or fixture with a stub-axle, upon which are mounted a sprocket-wheel b and hand-wheel o', which is rigidly connected to the sprocket-wheel, and the upper end of the tube or pipe B may have connected thereto an angle-joint or curved section,which carries a fixture designed to support shafts cc', there being mounted on the shaftca sprocket-wheel and a pinion, which are rigidly connected to each other, thepinion meshing with a pinion or gear c2 on the shaft c', there also being attached to said shaft asprocket-wheel d. Over the sprocket-wheels b b2 are passed chains b3 b4, said chains being connected to each other by bars, one of the bars having threaded ends and a turnbuckle for the purpose of adjusting the chain-sections. The lower section C of the suction-pipe carries at its lower end a shaft e, mounted in suitable bearings and provided with sprocket-wheels e', positioned to one side of the suction-pipe, and over these sprocket-wheels passes the agitator and screen E, the upper ends of which are attached to bars which connect with the section of chain which passes over the sprocket-wheel d, the connecting-bars on one side of the tube having adjusting means. The bars just mentioned have their lower ends spread for engagement with the ends of the agitator chain and screen.

The agitator chain and screen is made up of bars f, upon which are strung links f f2. Arranged alternately and between said links are sleeves f3. The links f'- have outwardlyprojecting spurs or teeth which are adapted to enter the soil and loosen the same, and between the links and sleeves there are provided openings which are of such size as to admit the material through the meshes of the chain to the suction-tube, and this chain may be moved either to bring a different part thereof over the mouth of the suction-tube or it may Y be reciprocated by oscillating the hand-Wheel h on the tube B, it being obvious that wheny said hand-wheel is oscillated motion will be imparted to the agitating chain and screen through the mechanism hereinbefore referred to. If desired, the hand-wheel b may be operated by mechanical means.

To the upper end of the suction-pipe in any suitable manner is attached a trussed bar G, the end of which is'provided With an eyebolt for connecting thereto a pulley forming a part of a tackle which extends therefrom to the ioat or scow, and by drawing upon'the tackle and paying out, or vice versa, upon the tackle H, which is also connected to the float and to a bail h, attached to the suction-pipe C, the angle of the suction-pipe may be Varied with respect to the pipe-section B. When it is desired to raise or lower the suction-pipe, it can be accomplished by operatin g the tackle I, one end of which is attached to the elbow-section of the suction-pipe, the other end being secured to a mast or upright I. Y

The discharge-pipe A', which is connected to the centrifugal pump, may lead where desired as to floats or to suitable separating mechanism when used for mining purposes.

Having thus described my invention,wl1at I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is#- l. In combination with the suction-pipe of a dredge, a flexible agitator and screen positioned over the mouth or inlet-openin g of the suction-pipe.

2. In a dredging-machine, a suction-pipe having sprocket-Wheels carried thereby, a exible agitator and screen mounted thereon,

and means for moving the agitator and screen,

for the purpose set forth.

3. In a dredging-machine, the combination with the suction-pipe thereof, of a flexible agitator and screen positioned oyer the open end of the pipe and provided with outwardly-projecting spurs, substantially as shown.

4. In combination with the suction-pipe of a dredge, of a iiexible agitator and screen mounted so as to lie over the mouth or inletopening of the suction-pipe, and having outwardly-projecting spurs or teeth, means for reciprocating the agitator and screen embodying flexible connections, guides therefor and adj Listing-bars, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a dredging-machine, the combination with the suction-pipes connected to a centrifugal pump, means for adjusting or changing the position of said pipes comprising three sets of tackles, the adj Listing-ropes thereof eX- tending to the float, couplings which admit of varying the position of the pipe-sections, a flexible agitator and screen positioned over the mouth or inlet-opening of the suctionpipe, connections extending Vtherefrom to a gear mounted on the suction-pipe, gears meshing With each other and gearing embodying fiexible connections extending to a wheel which when operated will move the iiexible agitator, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. BATMAN.

\Vitnesses:

ISAAC BLooM, ALBERT S. GEIsER. 

